Bittersweet and the little soap company

more summer...

The goodness of summer blooms is about to reach its peak! The lavender is buzzing with hundreds of bees. Every time I walk by the rows of aromatic lavender the bees swarm around me like a bee parade. I love it! My hydrangeas are not the bounty that I usually have, but I'm enjoying the pink and blue, white blooms and cutting stems to take to the shop. The pesky Japanese beetles have been seen here and there, and I pluck them off of my zinnias. Ever since I planted the lavender I don't have near the numbers. Before the lavender, there were hundreds eating away, and now that the lavender grows near, I've only had a half dozen or so. So, if you have Japanese beetles attacking, grow lavender. I don't think they like it and will move onto your neighbor's yard. Sorry neighbors. The large pink lilies are starting to wither. I took some cuttings from them too. I ordered these several years ago from a garden catalog simply because the description talked about how fragrant they were. I consider it a perk when a flower smells good and is pretty at the same time!

I wrapped up the last of our summer soap manufacturing on Wednesday by making a fragrant white jasmine soap or soaps I should say. Before that, peach. I love peach soap. It might sound strange but when I was a young girl there was a dish soap that smelled like a peach. My family didn't have it, but whenever I visited my best friend's house they did and I loved the scent. It wasn't a strong peach, but mellow and nice to even a young girl's nose.  It really has been all about scent for as long as I can remember. It makes perfect sense that my future would be entangled with fragrance. 

Usually, a spice soap is reserved for winter, but I'm on this star anise kick lately. The spice is nice blended with vanilla. I even mixed a dry oil with these two fragrances, and I love it! Just as your taste changes with design so too does it change with scent. There are scents that I never liked when I was younger but absolutely love them now. 

I'll have to shout it on the roof! The new Minty Watermelon Scrub smells fresh and very much reminds me of summer. It was a new formulation that I'd never made before, and I quickly discovered that this skincare essential is labor intense to make. It might have something to do with the fact that I double, doubled the recipe, and ended up with an enormous amount of product that was hard to maneuver. There are several steps involved that help you to appreciate and understand the word anticipation as well. I'll make a few minor changes and this new amazing polish will be available as a seasonal offering. We'll continue to offer it but it won't be around all of the time. This big eight-ounce jar should last you the remaining of summer.  I'm already pondering a fall scrub, and I'm leaning towards Pumpkin Spice. Bittersweet pumpkin spice smells amazing! I'm not even a pumpkin spice fan, but I love our pumpkin spice. When? Probably late September, or early October. 

Every summer when the fourth rolls around I find myself saying it's here already! Once it arrives I'm reminded of just how short-lived all the seasons are, and how in turn time flies. 

Our Holiday Soap manufacturing kicks in once the calendar turns to July!  We've already planned our holiday soap scents and have our supply of fragrances sitting in the studio. 

I'm wishing you a peaceful Independence day. America, the beautfiul! Don't ever let anyone say that she's not. Well, they can say it all they want, but it wouldn't be true. Our country is unlike any other in ways that are complex and above all filled with sacrifice and determination. Honesty and grit come to mind as well. If you study history you will have a better understanding, and might even find yourself wanting to learn more. Without our founding fathers and the insight they possessed, we would not be America, home of the brave. I would highly suggest that anyone that feels like America is not a good place to be should study history. There you will find an entirely new perspective, I promise. You will also have a better understanding of how America today has changed. I'm a history lover! I cannot lie!

This rainy morning is quiet and slow the way that I like them to be. 

Three cheers to America I salute you!

Jill 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

summer for sure!

The Ruby Slipper Hydrangea starts out snow-white but transforms into a scarlet once the days cool. The blooms smell like honey! I love this new bush! We planted them last fall.  Lavender sprigs popped out on the sides. Love that too! Little things...

I mentioned how summer is one of our busiest seasons at Bittersweet in my last post and this week has proven to prove that. Firstly, the re-style of our brick and mortar took center stage this past week, and I'm happy to say that the final look-over makes me smile. It's a process to change the design of a shop. We take advantage of the clear space by doing a thorough cleaning and then we slowly start bringing in the pieces we want to style with. Some pieces we keep, and others we don't. We love changing our look and vibe and do it often. 

Our new line "Back to Basics" has started to hit the store shelves! When I think of summer, I can't help but ponder the scents of lemon and lavender, and cool aromatic refresher sprays that well, refresh. Then there is the magnificent Bulgarian Rose! Typically, I'm not a rose fan. However, one of the reasons that I'm not is simply because the rose fragrance that is available is almost always synthetic. A chemist designs a scent that he, or she, believes resembles a rose. Most of the time the knock-off is either over the top or far between, but the real, $2800 per pound rose, well that's different! Now you know why most soap companies don't formulate real rose in their products. Except for Bittersweet! We are offering a Bulgarian Rose Refresher! Every time I walk by the tester I spritz it all over my body. I love the scent! This summer line is being curated, and we have a lot to add to the limited edition, but it's on the way. It seemed like yesterday that every time I'd blend a bath salt and get it out on the counter someone would grab it. I'm also fond of Lavender and Pink Grapefruit. The two essential oils work magic when they're blended! I consider it a go-to scent for summer. It would be lovely in a dry oil. What's a dry oil? The most amazing moisturizer that has ever been created! Bittersweet offers a scent bar at our shop. The sky really is the limit on the fragrances that we offer. Summer is a wonderful time to build a custom scent!

A floppy cotton hat for morning market trips and summer beach jaunts. Who doesn't love a cool cotton hat?

We're going to have almost triple-digit temps next week! It's way too early for that! I'm going to be spritzing those refreshers!

Stay strong and keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

Season Everything With Love

The cherry blossoms are blooming! We are experiencing a late spring here in Missouri. Usually, by this time, everything is in full bloom, but I'm thinking it's going to hit all at once and then get hot. 

They say if you live in Missouri and don't like the weather simply wait until tomorrow. Having lived here most of my life with a brief interlude in California, I would attest to this to be the truth. 

Our summer soaps are beginning to line our curing shelves. Pineapple Mango will make its return in mid-May. 

Easter kind of came and went, but it was peaceful and quiet. I worked on both books and kind of lay low because it was cold and rainy which translates to a homebody. Not necessarily a bad thing. Days like that allow me some downtime. Not too much of that lately. Heck, not too much of that for the past twenty-five years since owning and managing Bittersweet. Again, not a bad thing. 

We just received a box filled with the softest organic t-shirts. I'm a t-shirt girl. They are my grab-and-go favorite once the weather warms. 

Let the circle be unbroken, by and by Lord by and by...

What is it about a corked bottle? I loved them then, and I love them now!

My fiddle leaf is flourishing. I get oodles of questions about these plants. I have a couple at the shop and a few at home. Each fiddle leaf takes indifferent sun. We have north, south, east, and west exposure in our home- and all four exposures seem to be exactly what the figs love. I give them a wee drink of water each week, and that's it. They require minimal maintenance.  I desperately need to dig them all up and transplant them, but I'm waiting for it to warm up.

The layout and title are finalized for the upcoming cookbook, and the second book is coming along nicely. Content is flowing and the cover has been designed and planned out. That feels good! 

Working and writing two books while manufacturing and managing an apothecary shop is not as busy as it might sound. 

My grandmother Lola against all odds opened her restaurant during the depression. She was a pioneer that possessed the ability to be strong and gentle at the same time. 

I spent an entire day pulling up Creeping Charlie last week. I had on leather gloves and wore holes in the tips if that tells you anything. As soon as the rain is out of the forecast, I'm going to kill the rest with a mixture of this. Much easier than pulling it all up. I'm always somewhat reluctant to get rid of something that has medicinal properties, but in this case, the intrusive weed is going to choke out all of my hostas and English ivy. Life of a gardener. It's a good life. 

Jill 

  

 

 

 

deadlines and birthdays

Well, well, I did something that was not forecasted, I set a deadline for the book that I'm writing. Then after considering the idea of writing a second book, a cookbook, I set deadline number two. So I have two books in the works! What I'm seeing is that it's a good thing to set a deadline when you're writing a book. Never say never! I'm happy to announce that both books are coming along nicely and if things continue to run smoothly, we'll have both books available in early twenty-three! Editing, covers, and photographer might detour that date, but we've got a green light for the content.  Yippee! I'm fortunate in having a shop so that I can offer the books in a retail setting. Once early Spring 23 arrives I can sell millions of copies! Probably not, but it's good to put those thoughts out there!

She is the love of my life! This little sweetie just had her summer haircut. Not only is she a faithful companion as most dogs are, but she's also tender-hearted and playful. Elle turns eleven in August. Just as your children grow ever so fast, so do dogs. Their presence in our lives is a blessing, but I don't need to tell you that because I know that you feel the same. 

A gentle smile and she's rocking that top and jeans! I'm always reluctant to ask customers if I can capture a picture after they try on clothing, but Elizabeth was happy to oblige. After we began chatting I discovered that she works at the same veterinary office that I take Elle to. Small world! 

Save the date! Where has the time gone? It's like a blur, but a colorful and vibrant one!

When I was searching for new items for the shop this t-shirt stood out! Be the Good See the Good. Powerful words in small print, and ones that we sometimes have difficulty with. After all, we're only human. By the way, I touch on this, no I dig into this method of living or lifestyle change in the book! Those are powerful words!

The flower shop delivered our fresh blooms. The flower of the week is Rice Flower.  Heather also delivered huge very tall bundles of cherry blossoms. We laughed when she sat them down, as I was astonished by their size!  They haven't popped open yet, but I would imagine by next week they'll be showcasing pink clusters of blooms. 

It's funny how when a loved one passes you still remember their birthday. No matter what's going on in your life or how busy you are you always recognize their special earthly day. I believe that's a good thing to remember, and it's an even greater thing to celebrate their time here on earth. My mom was smart, savvy, creative, and a great cook! She didn't always tell me what I wanted to hear, but she was always right in her evaluation of things. In fact, she was soft- spoken but quite opinionated, and since she was so intelligent you knew that her answers were bound with knowledge and empathy. Those are two qualities that could sing a lovely song!  There should be a song about that! Oh, I'm sure that there is! If you recall what song it is, let me know. 

I've always thought there was something intriguing about an extra-large chunk of soap!  Well of course I think that way, I'm a soap maker! Scratch that thought, because I believe that the mere image of a huge loaf of soap is a curiosity to anyone whether they be a soap maker or not. How do I get off on these subjects? 

This seemed like a slow week, but as I'm going through this week's pictures I realize just how busy it was. That could be a metaphor for life. How often have you felt stuck in a rut or felt things were moving slowly only to realize the opposite? I do it all of the time. In fact, probably every day.

I don't have to look far within my shop to churn up sweet memories. When re-opening my shop my dad and brother went with me to pick out a particular piece that was planted in my mind. We went to our local Habitat for Humanity. We no sooner walked in and I spotted this now white sidebar. I believe it was once a hotel table that the television was on. It had a dark wood finish and holes on the top where the television screwed in. By the way, I had no idea that they mounted the televisions in hotels. Who knew? The sidebar didn't have legs so my dad and brother found some legs piled up in a corner of the warehouse at Habitat. We took the piece home and they added the legs. I painted it white and added the pulls. The piece set me back twenty dollars! It's turned out to be an invaluable piece as it has deep sturdy drawers that are perfect for storing soap bars. Honestly, the memories are what's significant. I don't recall a time when my brother and dad were ever with me picking out furniture. Little things always turn into the big ones. 

Peace. 

Jill  
 
  

 
  

 

 

 

 

listen

We've started to propagate the Fig trees again. Each single leaf will transform into a beautiful plant in just a few months. Give it a moderate drink of water once a week and a bit of sunshine, but not too much. They don't like direct outdoor sun so don't take it outside in the sun. I have several and have found that they are the easiest plants to grow, and boy do they grow!

We love sharing The Things we love. This list of admiration items changes with the seasons. It's a joy to create and style new items and essential at our store. In short, we love sharing our favorites, and can't help but think they will be your favorites too. We also seem to always offer a few trend pieces that make their shining debut a year and sometime even two years later. I'm not sure how that works, but I've definitely noticed this since owning a shop. Maybe it's because I'm old enough and been there done most of it, and eventually you just develop a knack for knowing what is going to be trending before it trends. 

I'm on a mission to bring back the art of handwriting a letter. Who has the time to do such things? Well, I certainly do not, but making time has developed into a commitment that brings me soulful happiness. Even if it's a short and sweet letter, I'm all for the process of sitting down and writing a thank you or warm sentiment on beautiful paper. I'm mentioned many times how I've always had a love for decorative paper. Evidence is shown by the collections we have at both our shop and studio. I am a soap maker, with that comes the notion of loving beautiful paper.  When Bittersweet was first born some twenty-four years ago it was a challenge to find pretty paper. Most of it was imported, and rare. The internet was just kicking in, and even though I thought it to be a great new resource, it seemed to be a waste of my time. Dial up! Some of you won't even know what those two words mean. If you're twenty-four that is. 

The new jewelry that came in is simple but perfect. Speaking of jewelry. I had a treasured turquoise necklace that I haven't been able to find in months. We had traveled a bit last summer and I was almost certain that I lost it while on the trip. This is a true story... Typically I don't get too attached to anything. The treasures of this world just aren't my thing. Of course, I love clothes, shoes, jewelry, and having nice things, don't get me wrong, in fact I'm probably considered to be a bit acentric along those lines. Born with it! However, knowing that I do love these things, I can take them or leave them. Anyway, the other night I was thinking about my favorite necklace a simple turquoise nugget on a leather chain that I've had for twenty-five years before losing it. All of a sudden, a little voice instructed me to sit down in front of my wicker jewelry stand. Of course, I'm going to listen to the voice, always. I did what it instructed me to do and no sooner than I sat down I spotted the necklace hanging behind the stand! I can't tell you the number of times I've searched and taken all of my jewelry out to try and find that necklace, but as soon as I sat down, I saw it hanging immediately! I really could not believe my eyes! Listen to those little voices! I believe the attachment that surrounded that necklace was directed from a time when I spotted the necklace and fell in love, but really didn't have the money to purchase it. I went ahead and bought it and when it arrived it exceeded my expectations and I valued it much more knowing that I had to make a sacrifice to be able to afford it.   

Do you remember when I chatted about digging out my big camera and all of the special lenses? Well, I did, and it kind of felt like I was going back in time. The quality of pictures that you are able to get on your phone are nothing short of amazing! Firstly, my big camera was messing with my patience, and it was posing to be few and far between. So, the next day I captured the shop picture and product shots on my phone. Honestly, being able to perform such a time-consuming task with less time-consuming time is of value to any shop girl! Long story short... Why make things harder than they should be? 

Our new perfume, Mirabella smells like a beautiful spring day! 

A carefully curated collection of socks awaits you!

Soft sweaters from my favorite clothing brand will gently glide you into SPRING!

Equally impressive is our recent shipment of denim. 

Unique Love Day Essentials that will not only get noticed but be impressive and well received. 

Going into Spring tops that emphasize comfort and style at the same time! We love that!

The new soaps are starting to arrive. We're building our inventory and have approximately twelve weeks of soap curing. Some of your favorites are being cut and cured, while a smorgasbord of new ones hits the shelves each week. 

Remember those little voices? Well, last week they were arriving with titles and chapters! I was preoccupied with soap making and the voices reminded me not to leave out certain favorite topics in my soon to be book. My fingers can't type fast enough and I'm a fast Typer!

       It’s interesting how I’ve always had an intense yearning to write about my faith. For many years that thought set in the back of my mind nudging at me and reminding me that I had some unfinished business. Between the everyday goings on of operating my manufacturing business and managing a shop there was little time to contemplate such a grand project.  It wasn’t until my husband died that this longing became stronger and more intense.  

Taken from My Beautiful Faith...

Jill xo

 

birthday, book, and bee gees...

Today is my dad's birthday! There isn't a day go by that I'm not thankful for his love. I'm forever thankful that God picked him to be my father. He has taught me many life lessons and those teachings continue today. He is and always has been super talented and the smartest man I know.  

The kitchen will be bellowing with the scent of lasagna soon as I'm preparing a dish to take to my dad's later.  Happy Birthday, Dad! Big things...

Yesterday was our first day back at the shop. I eagerly prepared for the big soap sale and as I gazed out the window my heart skipped a beat when I saw the line form all the way to the sidewalk. Big things...

As the day floated along, we danced and sang to the Bee Gees and conversed in lovely conversations. It felt great to be back and among my people! 

I often need to pinch myself as this life I've built sometimes feels like a dream. The humans that surround me are exceptional beings that bring joy to my life. Big things...

Annie brought us flowers! 

The Bittersweet Bags were bursting as patrons filled their muslin bags with mounds and pounds of soap! That's a picture of Dee. One of the exceptional humans I just mentioned!

The week before returning to the shop was filled with thoughts of new packaging and designs as it often is this time of year. 

Gouda gooey egg muffins filled my stomach with contentment. I tend to get stuck on certain foods and then I get tired of them and move onto something else. 

I'm getting back into the groove and getting ever so anxious for spring to arrive! I can't wait to be outside planting and digging and smelling. The smells of spring are delightful and fresh. I've always found it intriguing, the scents of the season. Sometimes they can go unnoticed. One must slow down and take them in. I can't say that out of all the four seasons that I have a favorite season scent. For if I left one out, I'd truly miss it. Spring with her fresh ozone and raindrop aroma, while summer arrives with a scent of green grass and roses, fall follows with dried leaves and moist earth, and winter lags behind bringing crispness and the smell of snow. Yes, I do believe you can smell snow! The phrase stop and smell the roses, comes to mind. 

I ordered in some flower presses to offer at the shop. They are well made and bring back happy memories. I used to love pressing flowers and preserving them. It's fun to look back as each spring and summer is magically never the same in the garden. A couple of years ago while on my morning walk, I looked down at a patch of grass and there stood a four-leaf clover. I'll be darn if I didn't find two more four leaf clovers all in the same week in the same spot. I called it my honey pot of clover. I had wanted to press the clovers in a flower press, but no longer had one. I stuck them inside a book for safe keeping. The clovers were found during a challenging time in my life, and I always thought that they were a precious gift. If they could talk, they would say, hang in there, you're not alone.  

During my break I was able to work on my book a little. Not a lot, but the writing is on the page, and that's good. It's as though I'm wearing an apron, and someone continues to tug at the hem! In other words, this book feels like something that I must do. Have you ever had this feeling before? Sometimes we have feelings like this, but we don't take any action.  I believe someone is trying to tell me something, and I trust that my actions determine the outcome. 

Sometimes we follow the same worn-out path while other times we create a new one. Both paths are lined with free will - An excerpt from the book that I'm writing. 

 

Keep the faith. 

Jill xo

 

 

Spice it up!

I always grab a Farmer's Almanac and rummage through the pages around early fall, and then remind myself to check the accuracy of the predictions as the days pass and winter blows by. I'm not very good at verifying the accuracy of the book as I get busy with other things and by the time, I remember that I was going to check, its Spring! However, this winter has been filled with sunshine warm days on one day and then by the next, its cold and snowy. Very much up and extreme down, and just what the almanac predicted. There's something comforting knowing that a book that's been around for such a long time forecasts the weather in accuracy.  At least I think so. Farmers still use the almanac as a guide for planting. The moon phases are listed, and a lot of farmers and gardeners plant their crops and flower beds by the phases of the moon. 

Now dreary winter's piercing cold, floats on the northern gale, and trees, though green, look dry and old; snow covers hill and dale. 

Elle looked at me with those sweet eyes as she stood by the porch door on that sunshiny day. Dog language, I call it. She ended up grazing in the sun for hours as I made soap! Little things...

It's a delight to be working on Valentine packaging. The alkanet root and dried cranberry powder offer a beautiful pale pink hue to this special soap. Not to mention that's flavored with Rose Geranium and Sweet Orange and dipped in Chamomile. A Valentine sundry treat for the taking, but they won't last long. 

My Saturdays have been golden! You know how when you don't have something that you sometimes want, and then you get it how much more you appreciate it? At least that's how I am. There aren't very many Saturdays throughout the year that I'm not at my shop. In fact, the past twenty-four-year Saturday's have been spent at my shop. So, when I have a few Saturdays off during winter break, I honor them and cherish them. They are cultivated and nourished and not too much thought goes into how they play out. Usually, I'll spend my hours cooking or baking, reading, and watching movies. An occasional load of laundry in between, but nothing pressing to worry my little mind. Little things...

I'm definitely a winter cook!  Roasted garlic, homemade cocoa, and soups of all types fill my kitchen with the smell of what I call winter. 

I made vegetable soup and roasted garlic and Irish butter rolls. Then right before heading to bed blended Dutch cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, milk, and sugar to create the most amazing hot cocoa. Oh yeah, and a large dallop of fresh whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon on top. There's nothing better than a cup of real hot cocoa on a snowy winter night! Dutch cocoa is a high fat cocoa and helps make the best cocoa ever! This is where I get it. 

4 cups of milk

3 TB. sugar

2 TB cocoa

a dash of cinnamon and vanilla

Blend over stove until warm. Top with marshmallows or fresh whipped cream. 

Enjoy.

Vegetable Soup

 

12 ingredients

Produce

 Carrots, Large

1/2 cup Celery

1 Garlic clove, Large

1 lb. Potatoes

1 (15 Ounce) Can Tomatoes

1 cup White onion

6 cups Vegetable broth or Chicken broth

1/2 tsp Black pepper

2 tsp Italian seasoning

2 tsp Salt

1 tbsp cooking oil

12 oz Mixed vegetables, Frozen

 

Add 1 TB of olive oil to stock pot. Chop onion, celery, potatoes, and carrot and simmer in oil for twenty minutes of so. Add garlic, spices, salt, pepper. Stir. Add fresh garlic, tomatoes, and broth. Simmer for at least an hour or longer, uncovered. Add the mixed vegetables when it's almost done or done. 

Enjoy 

 

I love the way the snow lays on the cedar and pine trees. It reminds me of a winter forest. We've lost a few of our cedar trees over the years, and it just about kills me when I see one start to die. Cedar, pine, cypress, all dear to my heart in the matter of trees. 

The Boho bouquets continually fill my soul with admiration. I don't ever recall a time that I didn't have a fascination for dried flowers and plants. Designing a dried flower bouquet fills me with joy. I'm filled with even more joy to see that other's appreciate the everlasting bouquets as much as I do. 

I've been traveling back and forth to the shop with carloads of freshly made Bittersweets. It usually takes five to six trips to get it all unloaded. This translates into a well-stocked apothecary shop!

Fresh cremes. serums, and an assortment of salves, and liniments fill the tables and shelves. Some new, some tried and true. 

There are a few lingering formulations dangling in my head that I'll be putting together and sharing as it gets closer to spring. 

The Christmas decorations are down, and I've been caring for my plants and pondering thoughts of a furniture change. Just thoughts though. I have to build up to that!

A new Herbal Massage Ball is fascinating to me! The best thing about this tool is how it produces moist heat during a massage. Years ago, I made Heat Pillows that were filled with corn. I had no idea how moist heat was so therapeutic until I started making these. There's really nothing that compares. 

 

Grandma Lucy's aromatic cleaning spray helps to change one's winter melancholy mood. The spicy home keeping aid smells amazing and will fill your home with its herbal blend. 

 

Dry brushing. Don't knock it before you try it. 

The new Agarwood Liniment is a must-have to keep in your medicine cabinet especially during winter months. 

A re-do on a popular scrub, and it gets a new name. Invigorating Lemon and Rosemary keep me coming back!

I received a request for jade rollers. I was intrigued with these little skin tools, so I found a supplier and they're now available at our shop and web site. 

We'll be back at the shop on Saturday! Woohoo! I'm ready, and excited to share the things I've been working on at home. 

The huge Soap Sale will kick off on this day! 

I believe that we have around two hundred pounds of soap for this sale! It will impress me if we sell out on Saturday! It does happen!

 

Keep smiling and hold onto that faith. It will nourish you in ways you never imagined. 

 

Jill xo

 

 

 

comfort food

We managed to pull in a productive week! Winter lends a hand to this type of progress at the Bittersweet Studio. Home projects have remained on the back burner for the time being. Simply because this little business called Bittersweet demands so much of my time. By no means should you think that's a bad thing. I've worked hard the past twenty-four years to build this business and aid it in growing. None of which would be possible without the help of my family and the amazing customers that I've encountered through these wonderful years, there isn't a day go by that I'm not grateful for this and more. The huge load of Bittersweets was loaded and unloaded last week at the shop. I'm always flabbergasted with the amount of cremes, serums, and salves that accumulate this time of year. I make them, and then I make more. This is where that g word comes in. A few years ago, I made a Lavender Liniment that was seasonally popular.  The menthol-based healing balm flew out the door during winter months, but trailed behind during spring, summer months. When this happens nowadays, I usually only make the item during the months that it is in demand. I'm a bit compulsive about any Bittersweet that sits on the store shelf for months on end. In fact, I just won't stand for it! A bit harsh to say, but true. Although almost all of the product's that we make have at least a two-year shelf life, I prefer a Bittersweet to be put to use before that time. It's just always been my thing. We usually don't worry too much with this because most all of our essentials sell at a consistent level. However, if something doesn't, I pull it. Sometimes it's just a matter of timing. You aren't in business for as long as we've been without learning how important timing is in almost everything that you do. There's a good time, bad time, and perfect time for everything. How do you learn which is the best for your business? I'd have to say by experience. That's really the only way.  With all of the flooding of social media platforms, monitoring rhythms, and the vast number of internet tracking systems, sometimes it's just a matter of going over the timing. The bottom line is always evaluating the research that these programs offer, but you will find that you consistently go back to timing. We tried this ten years ago, and it faded, but look, we re-introduced it and it's more popular than ever! There are perks when your business has been around the block. The g word comes to mind, again. I feel fortunate to have learned from the ground up, and I always make sure that I'm refreshed to be able to keep up with the constant new technology and research. It's in my genes! Both my brother and dad are computer savvy and very much computer genius's. I'll share their stories sometime. You will be impressed!

Let's go back...

I mentioned how we used to offer a Lavender Liniment. The past few months have been filled with oodles of requests for this product. When these requests flow in, I usually bring it back! We've brought it back but with some improvements. We've replaced Lavender with Agarwood. Are you familiar with Agarwood?  That's a great website by the way! We're excited to bring this popular winter essential back to Bittersweet!

Our huge Soap Sale is fast approaching! I believe we have on hand several hundreds of pounds of naked soap available for this sale! It sounds funny to say hundreds of pounds. Let's see, 3.5-ounce x hundreds of bars = hundreds of pounds. Save the date: Saturday, January 22, 2022. 

 If you're like me, you're dreaming about Spring. That shot of the bee balm growing in my garden urges me to ponder those thoughts. The bees love this plant! 

I've always loved corked bottles! It feels great to incorporate some into Bittersweet. We've introduced corked bottles before, so I guess they would fall into the timing thing. This is a nine-ounce glass bottle that the salt is in. Kind of unique size in the apothecary business. It's not too small, and not to large. Just right. 

We also have a new line of stationary and greeting cards that I'm absolutely in love with. The artist is amazing! Bittersweet is honored to carry her collections.

I have a confession to make. I have a weakness for tea towels! Sometimes my weakness can be your reward! The assortment of cotton tea towels will happily take you into spring. 

I'm working on some new scents. One of which is named Maribelle. She is cultivated and wrapped with notes of juniper and sweet orange. This perfume will be a welcome pick-me-up during cold winter months. I also believe that it will be appealing to all. Are you a floral, spice, or citrus girl or boy? This is always a great place to start when you're choosing a scent for someone else. 

Fresh jars of Peppermint Foot Creme, Lemon Nail Creme, Agarwood Liniment, Marula Smoothie, and Marula Face Creme hit the store shelves this past week!

When we arrive back to the shop after our winter break its usually time to stock back up on Bittersweets! We always like to have everything in stock when you visit. Sometimes we don't, but most of the time we do.  

In addition to Maribelle, we're introducing a Winter Elixir and another fragrance that I believe will happily glide into spring on the fragrance chart. 

I made Grandma Christine's Chocolate Pie! This is an old-fashioned recipe that my grandmother gave to me many years ago. You can either make meringue or whip up some cream to put on top of this rich chocolate pie.  It's funny, I can still remember exactly where I was sitting in her Utah home when I wrote out the receipt. I'm guessing because it really meant something to me. To think that all these years later, I'm making the pie that my grandmother made when she was a young wife and mother. Soulful stories. 

I definitely have a level of comfort food cravings during the winter.  Grandma Christine's pie, Ravioli Soup, Chicken Noodle...I don't really follow a recipe for the Ravioli soap or Chicken noodle, but I'm going to share how I make both. Over the years I feel like I've perfected both recipes. 

Ravioli Soap

Brown one pound of Italian Sausage in a large soup pot. Allow to cook through. 

Add one box of organic chicken broth. You can use more if you like a little more broth. 

Add a can of stewed tomatoes into the broth and sausage. Give a good stir. Pour a bag of pre-made cheese ravioli into broth mixture. I actually had to come back and add this because I forgot! If you prefer, a meat pre-made ravioli. I'm not into too much meat lately for some reason. 

Sprinkle in a dash of Italian Seasoning or Oregano. 

After it's simmered on the stove for thirty minutes of so add a can of Italian Green Beans. Note: When I posted this recipe, I received some questions asking what Italian Green Beans were. They are available at most markets and the can will read Italian Green Beans. They are short and fatter than other green beans. They are Italian after all! Ha! I'm making sure you're still with me! 

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

First let me say that I use a cooked Rotisserie Chicken when making this soup. Not only does it speed up the process, but it does also not make any difference in taste. I like easy when it's available at a no cost result. 

Cut up your chicken in small bite size pieces. Set aside. 

Sauté one large onion of your choice, two celery sticks, and two carrots in two Tablespoons of olive oil. You can use butter if you want to add some flavor. 

Sauté onion, celery and carrots until their vegetable aroma's fill your home or about ten minutes. 

Add two boxes of organic chicken broth to the sautéed vegetables. I have found that if I use one box the noodles absorb all of the broth and it's dry. Honestly, you can't get enough broth in this soup. 

Add a bay leaf and a sprinkle of thyme, a half teaspoon of celery seed, and 1/4 tsp. of turmeric to the broth and veggies. 

Simmer on low for an hour or more covered. 

While you're waiting mix two tablespoons of either flour or cornstarch to 1/4 cup of water. Set aside. 

I use wide egg noodles for this soup, but you can use whatever noodle you wish to use, and about 1 1/2 cups. 

Cook noodles according to directions. After they're ready add them into the broth mixture. 

Finally, add the flour/cornstarch blend to thicken the soup. You don't even need to do this if you prefer a more brothy type chicken soup. 

Enjoy

Best wishes for a peaceful and joyful year ahead. 

Jill xo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

looking ahead

It's an exciting moment when I realize the few final touches have been added to a new line. The creative journey always has a beginning and an end. Each step transforms and gets you closer to your vision, and just like that, it seems, the images in your mind transfer to a real hold in your hand item. I guess you could imagine this to be true in not only capturing new product forecasts, but in everyday life. At least that's what I've always thought. 

Happy Twenty-Two!

My motto for the past few years has been - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

If I've learned anything the past couple of years, I've learned to be appreciative of each day, and to not let the goings on of this world take away the amazing beauty that surrounds me each and every day.  

This beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and is always present regardless of the world around us. Sometimes you have to adjust your way of thinking to be able to recognize its joyful presence. Sometimes you just need to turn off the news!  Once you lean towards this understanding, you'll be awakened to the endless possibilities that God has planned for you while your short time on earth. It's about letting go and regardless of the circumstance no matter how dire it might be, hold onto the thought of knowing you are here for a reason, and that reason is bigger than any obstacle or bad thing that might come along in your earthly life. It's also easy to get discouraged or doubt your trust and faith. It happens to all of us. That is called being human!  I have learned time and time again that overcoming doubts and standing strong in my faith becomes my daily devotional that navigates this journey I call life. I could not live without the knowledge of knowing this, and I feel blessed beyond measure to have this knowledge. Thank you, God!

Let's bring back Letter Writing! We've all had to learn how to slow down these past few years. I can't imagine a more soulful way to appreciate the slowness by writing a "from the heart" letter to a friend or loved one.  

I've always had a fascination for beautiful paper and stationery! When I was young, I couldn't wait to write a letter to a friend on new stationary! Back then we had scented stationary! What a grand idea, I always thought. You see, my love for fragrance has always surrounded my life from the beginning.

A dear friend made the butterfly garland. Again, beautiful paper constructed to be a beautiful object of affection. 

I don't make New Year's resolutions. It seems to me a set-up for disappointment down the road. I do however make resolutions about creating new scents and such. One of those ideas' floats around flowers. Well of course it does, we just talked about that!

I love the new canvas bags! Spring Twenty-Two will be surrounded by all things flowery! Flower Presses and Everlasting Bouquets will also wrap themselves around us in Twenty-Two. 

Yes, it's true! We have a new Denin Department in our shop! Yippee-Yee-Yang! I don't want to disclose to you how many pairs of jeans that hang in my closet today. Maybe later down the road. At any rate, blue jean rate that is, my love for the textile is and always has been present. That is why I've designed an area of the shop dedicated to the flairs, straight's, cuffed, and indigo hues. 

Those silk drawstring bags made from scraps of Sari's! I love these bags! An idea came to assembly Bath Salt assortments using the silk sacks. I'm working on labels for the new packaging. My mind is set with what the labels should look like, but I've yet to design them on paper. Should go pretty quickly once font and graphics are chosen for the colorful assortment of Soaking Salts. I can't think of a better time to introduce this pampering aromatherapy essential. Bath time... Slow down...

Do you remember when the lilacs bloomed in October? I captured the image back when challenges were ever present. The idea of lilacs blooming when they're not supposed to was quite appealing and intriguing. I didn't want to question it but embrace their signature scent and purple blossoms.  

Waffles...

Okay, I'm going to share the fact that wintertime is waffle time at our house! When I purchased our waffle iron some ten years ago that recipe booklet came with the iron. It is the easiest and best recipe I've ever used! You can tell that by the ruggedness of the recipe. I misplaced the recipe a few times and tried to find it online, but never could. Believe me, you won't find any better recipe for homemade waffles! I think the peaks of the egg whites are the secret. 

Our big soap sale is coming on January 22! I'll keep reminding you! It's a while out, but ever present in my mind as I prepare for the once a year event!

I spent several days at the shop clearing and cleaning space for the new Spring arrivals. 

I'm working on several new products during winter break, not really a break, but a great time to ponder new ideas and think about warmer temperatures coming. 

This April Bittersweet will be celebrating twenty-five years! It sure doesn't feel like it's been twenty-five years! I'm thankful for it, including failures, disappointments, milestones, and moments. A journey that will stay with me forever. 

Thank you.

Jill xo

 

Each Moment Is Precious

 Patricia A. Fleming 

Published: October 2018

Live in the moment,
Just take it all in.
Pay attention to everything,
Right there and right then.

Don't let your mind wander
To what's coming next.
Cherish this moment
And give it your best.

Don't let tomorrow
Make you rush through today,
Or too many great moments
Will just go to waste.

And the person you're with,
In that moment you share,
Give them all of your focus.
Be totally there.

Laugh till it hurts,
Let the tears drop.
Fill up each moment
With all that you've got.

Don't miss the details.
The lesson is there.
Don't get complacent;
Stay sharp and aware.

It can take but a moment
To change your life's path.
And once it ticks by,
There is no going back.

In just 60 seconds,
You may make a new friend.
Find your true love,
Or see a life start or end.

You become who you are
In those moments you live.
And the growth's not in taking
But in how much you give.

Life is just moments,
So precious and few.
Whether valued or squandered,
It's all up to you!

 

 

in review

When I start digging out old photos of past Bittersweet, I can't help but be reminded of the artisan journey. 

There was a day that doesn't feel so very long ago that this soap maker would sit at her sewing machine whipping up an array of items to be sold in her store. Pajama shorts, camisoles, wide leg pants, bowl cozies, linen aprons, and the list goes on and on, and even on. 

The making of these things never came easy for me. It was always trial and error, upon more trial and error. Lots of flops, and lots of tossed in the trash too! To think that I hated sewing in high school and couldn't follow a pattern for nothing still baffles my mind! Those thoughts allowed me to learn a valuable lesson.  One that has stayed with me for most of my adult life. Don't underestimate what you can learn or maybe I should say unlearn. 

I learned how to learn. Think about that for a moment. It's my belief that each person has a unique way of learning new things. Sometimes it takes a while to recognize it and put it into motion, but once you figure it out, it's a lightbulb moment! This learning ability is often absent in school or college but shows up later. This is why a lot of people go to college for one thing and end up doing the complete opposite later in life. 

People always ask me how I learned how to make this or that. This is how I have learned. I jump in all the way, and then slowly learn the ropes as I go along. Never be afraid of trying something new thinking that you could never do it. That's your first learning mistake. Always go into a project thinking, I can do this, and I will! 

My love for making things has always been a vital part of who I am as a human. My life would be dull and unfulfilling it I wasn't able to create with my hands. 

I also hear often, "I could never learn how to do that!" Poppycock! That's your second learning mistake!

There was never a time that I didn't make something just to be making it. Each hand made item was created out of a yearning for something that I felt I needed. Disappointment seemed to be a common occurrence with my purchases. My expectations were usually always never met. Once in a great while I guess, my expectations would be exceeded, but rarely. 

For that reason, Bittersweet was founded!

I can build it better has always been my motto or way of thinking but having said that constructing something to make it better always carries with it learning curves. Well, of course it does!

The skies the limit...

As I ponder over years past creations, I'm also reminded of some soulful stories. 

New Year ♥ - Bittersweet and the little soap company (typepad.com)

nut shell - Bittersweet and the little soap company (typepad.com)

the hand made goods - Bittersweet and the little soap company (typepad.com)

this thing - Bittersweet and the little soap company (typepad.com)

Creating gifts made from cloth... - Bittersweet and the little soap company (typepad.com)

Happy New Year!

Jill xo